Eau Fraîche (1953)
by Christian Dior

This often-overlooked Dior is worth seeking out and rivals any modern citrus fragrance. The opening notes positively radiate off the skin in layers of citrus notes. Lemon takes center stage but a variety of citrus notes are present and can be appreciated distinctly or as part of melange of notes. I like to grossly overapply and surround myself with its aroma. This citrus is 'just right', not too sour, not too sweet, and no thickness or creaminess. Even overapplied the citrus is never too much.... Roudnitska must have intended this as discrete fragrance.

With a heavy application you'll get about 2 hours of citrus nirvana before Eau Fraiche fades out. If there's any sort of distinct basenotes I can't distinguish them before the scent fades entirely. For longevity Eau Fraiche is a tad disappointing, but really this is not surprising or out of the norm for vibrant citrus scents (i.e. Eau d'Orange Verte, Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat, etc.) - poor longevity is part of what defines this genre. This is a great alternative to EdOV and perfect for summer. If you can find a vintage bottle all the better because the citrus is even more vibrant.

Eau Fraiche--the name implies citrus and herbs, right? Right. And that is exactly what I smelled upon first application. I am picky about lemon scents and prefer orange, so at this point I was unimpressed. I thought that was all it had to offer. But no, I was wrong! What came next was a surprising leather phase that was not rude and animalic but smooth and suedey, like the leather in Jolie Madame. However, no vanilla creaminess followed, as it does in Jicky. The Dior fragrance remained clear. On the whole, this fragrance was short-lived. It is remarkable because it stands out from the rest of the "fresh" genre due to that clever base. Anyone looking for a lemon scent shouldn't overlook this one. Very nice.

Eau Fraiche is an all time favorite of mine. I am a male, who finds this fragrance altogether unisex. It's citrus-y and powdery and delightful. It does not overpower, and is wonderful in warmer weather.